Konstantin Galkin: I always liked to be a sociologist
Student of a second year in Sociology department Master’s program Konstantin Galkin begins the New Year with two important events. First, he got the first place in the students ranking at the end of the last semester (applause and congratulations !!!), and, secondly, the dark and mysterious path of scientific interests led him to the Center for Youth Studies HSE.
- Kostya, tell us, please, why did you come to the CYS, how do you see your future in the Center?
- Until this year, I was into quantitative studies, my area of interest was garbage or trash cultures and ecological culture in the context of the quantitative paradigm. But over time, reading books and studying various databases, I realized that a more appropriate methodology for the study of ecological culture, especially in the Russian context, is the qualitative paradigm. The main reason I came to the CYS - a wonderful base of qualitative methodology, database of researches that have been conducted and are being conducted currently. In my master's thesis I will consider garbage culture in terms of "qualitative approach" to compare two perspectives - the ones of residents of old and new houses.
- What areas of research provided by CYS you’re most interested in?
- I am most attracted to the studies connected with construction of the bodyness in modern culture, particularly in the context of television. I will talk on that at the conference "Sociology in Action", organized by the Higher School of Economics, with a report on the body and identity construction among fans of anime. Bodyness also intersects with my master’s thesis theme. It is about an emotional and physical patterns of ecological culture.
- This year you will graduate the Master’s degree. What do you plan to do next?
- I'm going enter the candidate program. As well to keep up working at the Center for Youth Studies, develop sociological competence. Along with that I will write articles and participate in scientific conferences. Basically, purely academic plans. I always liked to be a sociologist.